wendy nesbitt
  • home
  • portraits
    • for pets >
      • studio sessions-pets
      • on-location sessions-pets
      • before I go
    • for people
  • photo essays
    • formerly abandoned
    • small worlds
    • the artist was present for 100 days
    • dale roberts studio j
    • highways and horses 3
    • highways and horses 2
    • highways and horses
    • the broom cut
  • curios + collections
    • bella's treasures
    • play
    • little bottles
    • the dollhouse
    • tools of a hobby-ist dentist
  • advocacy + art
    • i was a sled dog
    • home away from home
    • Photographed with Love Sessions
    • #the100dayproject
  • about
  • blog
  • galleries

january 25, part b

2/10/2016

1 Comment

 
Although the main focus of spending January 25, 2016 at Mill Bay Veterinary Clinic was to document the visit and surgeries of Laverne & Shirley - two dogs in care of the Victoria Humane Society so we could put together a feature to help tell their journeys - there were a few distractions throughout the day...
Working in a vet clinic means you are constantly subject to animals who are not at their best. Whether it's a routine vaccination or major surgery, the staff are the ones on the frontlines - being both the enemy and the saviour.
The staff at Mill Bay Veterinary Clinic do a lot of procedures for animals who come into the care of Victoria Humane Society - from dental surgeries to the multiple spay/neuter surgeries on litters of puppies, to complicated, life-saving procedures. The staff go above and beyond, often taking animals home to provide round-the-clock care, fostering them through the sometimes difficult recovery process.
And sometimes those animals manage to just squish their furry little souls into the hearts of the staff. You may not know when it'll happen, but you know when it does.
Such is the case of three dogs - Gus, Sammy, and Skittles - I got to visit with that day. 
I've met Gus many times before over the last couple years - he goes everywhere with his mom, Allison. When he first arrived at the vet, no one was really sure if he'd survive. He was born with megesophegus which makes it difficult to digest food. What he eats and when he eats is carefully regulated... and he must eat standing up. At almost two years old, he knows the food drill. At mealtime, he rushes to his Bailey Chair (specially made for him) and hops in and waits for his human servant to bring him his food. Today, Kuzo, a kitten in foster with one of the staff who volunteers with Cowichan Cat Rescue came to visit too! Gus is the official VHS spokesdog. He comes to all the events and makes friends with EVERYONE! {Click here for some of Gus' story}
Sammy comes with his human too. His previous life wasn't so great, but he and Gus are besties and get to spend lots of time being the rambunctious youngsters they are outside in the fenced yard.
Skittles comes in for visits with Dr. Forbes' husband. She finds herself quite at home and the staff follow her around with paper towel because she's an 'excited piddler'. {Click here for Skittles' story}

These dogs offer a brief reprieve and bring a smile to everyone's faces - no matter the day - when they come ripping in. Their exhuberance for life today may be a far cry from their previous lives, but they don't show it.
It's only good days from now on.

Thanks once again to ALL of the staff at Mill Bay Vet Clinic (especially Allison) for being so welcoming and allowing me to follow them around asking questions... all. day. long. Their collective ability - both out front in the public eye as well as back in the surgical areas - to keep focussed while faced with extreme challenges was incredible to witness. 

As of the time of writing, the dogs mentioned at the start of this post, Laverne and Shirley, have been missing for two weeks, having escaped their foster home the day after their surgery. There have been some unconfirmed sightings, but they are still out on their own. They are not together. We are desperate for any/all sighting info and for people to share that they are still missing and to keep their eyes open when out on the trails from the Highlands area to the Hartland area of Greater Victoria. For more info sightings and to share their story, please visit, 'like' and share their facebook page: Find Laverne & Shirley. Thank you.
1 Comment
Deborah Furlong
2/11/2016 03:07:28 am

love the bailey chair. Of course I looked at the pictures first and wondered why is the dog in a box and why was he staying in it.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Archives
    all images © wendy nesbitt

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    May 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    Categories

    All
    #100dayproject
    #100daysofdiscarded
    Art
    Art Show
    Bands/music
    Books
    Dayinthelife
    Documentary
    Dogs
    Farmlife
    Fridaysatfleming
    Garden
    Horses
    #instagram
    #iwasasleddog
    Nature
    People
    Places
    Portraits
    Rescue
    Retired Sled Dogs
    Still Life

    RSS Feed

wendynesbitt.com
facebook   //   instagram   //   contact

Images and content on this website and corresponding social media can not be used without prior written consent from the artist.
Website and social media content is copyright protected. © Wendy Nesbitt  // © Wendy Nesbitt | Photo // All rights reserved.
  • home
  • portraits
    • for pets >
      • studio sessions-pets
      • on-location sessions-pets
      • before I go
    • for people
  • photo essays
    • formerly abandoned
    • small worlds
    • the artist was present for 100 days
    • dale roberts studio j
    • highways and horses 3
    • highways and horses 2
    • highways and horses
    • the broom cut
  • curios + collections
    • bella's treasures
    • play
    • little bottles
    • the dollhouse
    • tools of a hobby-ist dentist
  • advocacy + art
    • i was a sled dog
    • home away from home
    • Photographed with Love Sessions
    • #the100dayproject
  • about
  • blog
  • galleries